Russell Penticost

Russell Penticost 1949 - 2007

Sadness swept through the football community all over Sussex in the autumn of 2007, with the untimely death on 4th October of former Swans manager Russell Penticost. He died at home in Horsham after suffering a heart attack, a week after his 58th birthday. Russell had left Storrington FC that summer and become the manager at Ifield Edwards FC, but he remained a hugely popular figure at the Rec, and his passing hit many of us at the club extremely hard. The countless players, officials and supporters he could consider as friends after a lifetime in football, likewise found the news difficult to take in.

A man for whom the phrase ‘colourful character’ might have been invented, Russell Penticost began his life in football as a player in the late 1960’s. A clever, goalscoring inside-forward, he was good enough to include Worthing and Horsham on a long list of clubs that he served with distinction. Despite continuing his playing days into his forties, Russell’s appetite for the game was undiminished as he embarked on a managerial career that was to make him one of the most popular faces in Sussex. Whether working with senior clubs such as Broadbridge Heath or Forest, the cream of local talent with Horsham FC’s Youth team, or at grass roots level with Roffey Robins junior teams, Russell was always a model of enthusiasm and enjoyment. With long-time friend and team-mate Trevor Paske, he took over Horsham YMCA’s under-achieving Reserve team in the late 90’s, and led them to consecutive County League Championships in the West and then the Premier Division. Some of that team followed when, in 2002, he arrived at struggling Storrington, newly relegated to County League Division 3 and having difficulty in raising sides at all. A Vernon-Wentworth Cup victory in 2003 started the ball rolling, and 3 years of gradual improvement saw Russell assemble arguably the best squad of his career. Swans romped to the 2004/05 Division 3 title with 3 matches to spare, with a collection of seasoned County League players all enjoying their best times in football. Sadly, that team quickly broke up, and after briefly flirting with the top end of Division 2, the next two years became something of a struggle. It was fitting though, that Swans lifted themselves in May 2007, to give Russell a thrilling victory in his last match as manager, a win which secured Swans Senior status. Typically, Russell was out of the game for all of a fortnight, before becoming manager of Ifield Edwards FC. He quickly put together another side capable of challenging for honours, and the team had started 2007/08 in impressive form. The impact he had at the Crawley club was obvious, and his loss was as keenly felt by his new friends there, as by his old ones here at Storrington.

Despite his prominent position in the local game, Russell was never happier than when beavering away behind the scenes. I wonder how many County League managers cheerfully act as linesman or waterboy for the Under 18’s on a Sunday morning, or whiz away from the first XI match to catch the last 20 minutes of the 3rd team game the other side of the county? It was second nature to Russell. Though he desperately wanted to do well, he never lost the perspective that eludes many of us, and win or lose, he was a friend to every one of his players – in summer, for example, he would go and watch them play cricket (and play himself on one memorable occasion!). The many tributes in the aftermath of his death proved that perhaps he will be best remembered by many for the truly terrible jokes he favoured by way of team talks. At 5 to 3 he would still be sifting through his reams of printed internet pages, as concerned players discreetly whispered to Paskey to find out what position they were playing. Russell was no tactical wizard, or organisational genius (although he could spin a yarn that would twist a local sports reporter round his little finger). But every single player I have spoken to fondly remembers the time they spent in Russell’s team as the happiest of their football career.

Those who were lucky enough to know Russell will miss him hugely, and those who didn’t know him missed out. We are left with innumerable memories, any of which one cannot help but recall with a broad smile - he has left a gap that will be impossible to fill. When tragedies like this occur, the neuroses and energy we all expend on local football seem way over the top. But never did a man love the game as much as Russell did, and he wouldn't have it any other way.